By: Andrew Lacy Posted at: 06/27/2013 10:26 PMDENVER (AP) — A person with knowledge of the situation says the Denver Nuggets have traded Kosta Koufos to the Memphis Grizzlies and have also dealt their first-round pick in Thursday night's draft to the Utah Jazz.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deals hadn't been announced.

The Nuggets didn't want to pay another young prospect to sit on their bench. So, they traded Frenchman Rudy Gobert, whom they selected with the 27th pick, to the Jazz for cash and the 46th pick, the person said.

They also traded Koufos to the Grizzlies for forward Darrell Arthur and the 55th pick, opening the way for JaVale McGee to start for them in 2013-14.